As the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic takes over India, the country continues to experience a surge in cases and is faced with issues like hospitals filled over capacity and need for medical supplies. As India courageously fights against the deadly virus, tech giants, like Microsoft, Google and Amazon, and Indian companies, like Jindal Stainless, Cred and Mankind, come forward to pitch in. The companies have pledged their support via various generous initiatives in order to help India meet the on-going shortage of oxygen and medical equipment.
International companies & tech giants helping India
Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet and Google, announced that the tech giant would be providing Rs 135 crores (1.35 billion) to GiveIndia and UNICEF to help the country fight its battle with the novel Coronavirus. The funds will be used to arrange for medical supplies and support organizations supporting high-risk communities as well as help in spread of critical information. Moreover, Google’s current employees have also extended their donations totaling to Rs 3.7 crores (37 million) for organizations helping high risk communities. Apart from the monetary support, Google is doing its best to continuously highlight authoritative information.
Microsoft
Satya Nadella, Microsoft Chief Executive Officer, said that his company will be mobilizing as many resources as possible to help India fight against the virus. Nadella said in a tweet that he was “heartbroken”about the COVID-19 situation in India and will help the country combat the shortage of oxygen supply. In the tweet, Nadella said that he’s grateful that the government of the United States is mobilizing help. He added that Microsoft will leverage its resources, voice and technology to help and make relief efforts and support the purchase in oxygen concentration devices.
I am heartbroken by the current situation in India. I’m grateful the U.S. government is mobilizing to help. Microsoft will continue to use its voice, resources, and technology to aid relief efforts, and support the purchase of critical oxygen concentration devices.
— Satya Nadella (@satyanadella) April 26, 2021
Amazon
E-commerce giant Amazon will be procuring about 10,000 oxygen concentrator devices and will also be covering vaccination costs for more than 1 million people in India. It has also donated numerous breathing machines and ventilators to the country. Amazon is working with the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) to make sure the ventilators are of the right technical specifications. It also carried out many of its own compatibility checks to fund 100 units of MT (Medtronic) devices and airlift them to India for urgent use.
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Facebook said that the social media giant is working continuously with UNICEF and providing it with US$10 million as emergency response efforts. Facebook Chief Mark Zuckerberg said on the social media platform that “”I’m thinking of everyone in India and hoping we get this virus under control soon.” Chief Operating Officer of Facebook, Sheryl Sandberg said the social media company will be providing support to Indian frontline workers, volunteers and emergency responders who are working non-stop to curb the spread of the virus.
Apple
Expressing his concern with regards to the COVID-19 situation in India, Apple Chief Tim Cook has announced that he will be donating funds to back the on ground relief operations in India.
Amid a devastating rise of COVID cases in India, our thoughts are with the medical workers, our Apple family and everyone there who is fighting through this awful stage of the pandemic. Apple will be donating to support and relief efforts on the ground.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) April 26, 2021
Oppo and Vivo
Chinese phone manufacturer Oppo said it will be donating 1,000 oxygenators in addition to 500 breathing machines worth ₹4.3 crore to the Indian Red Cross Society and the UP government. Oppo said that the machines will be delivered to the Indian hospitals with the highest need. The Chinese smartphone company will also donate 5,000 units of Oppo Band Style (worth ₹1.5 crore) to frontline warriors of the Delhi Police as well as Greater Noida Authority in order to help them monitor their health. Vivo will donate ₹2 crore to help COVID-19 relief efforts as well as help acquire oxygen concentrators.
Procter & Gamble
P&G has pledged to contribute INR 50 crore to help half a million Indian nationals get vaccinated, in association with Indian government and local authorities. This contribution towards vaccinations in India will be apart from the earmarked CSR funds of P&G for the current year. It would also extend its support through the donation of products, masks and sanitizers to frontline and other essential workforce.
Indian companies & startups extending their support
Zomato in association with Delhivery
The non-profit arm of Indian food delivery giant Zomato, Feeding India has joined hands with Delhivery, a logistics unicorn, to set up an initiative called Help Save my India. Zomato, which has recently filed for a $1.1 billion IPO, is raising INR 50 crores to procure oxygen concentrators to patients and hospitals.
Mankind
Indian pharmaceutical giant Mankind announced that it will be donating INR 100 crores to families of deceased corona warriors – police officers, doctors and other frontline workers. The drug firm plans to release money with immediate effect and is hoping to complete the initiative within the next 3 months. “This is not our duty, but a debt we owe them. Because they are truly our hope,” said Rajeev Juneja, Mankind Pharma MD and Vice Chairman.
Vistara
Vistara, an Indian airline company, is helping government establishments that need assistance in air logistics. The airline will also help in flying healthcare workers from government organisations free of cost across its domestic network.
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Image Courtesy: Image by Farkhod Vakhob from Pixabay